Heading Out to the Ice
Alright, so I finally did it. Went out for the Lake Champlain Pond Hockey Classic this year. Heard about it forever, seen the pictures, figured it was time to actually get out there instead of just talking about it.
Getting the gear together was the first step. Dug out the old skates, needed sharpening bad. Found my warmest base layers, thick socks, grabbed the stick I barely use anymore. Tossed it all in the car. Felt kinda like getting ready for youth hockey again, but my back definitely reminded me it wasn’t.
The drive up wasn’t too bad. Cold, obviously. Lake Champlain in February, what do you expect? But the sky was clear, sun was out, which helps. You just hope the ice is thick enough, you know? They check it constantly, but it’s still in the back of your mind.
Setting Up on the Lake
Pulling up and seeing it all spread out on the lake… pretty impressive. Rinks scraped clear, little snowbanks piled up to make the ‘boards’. Teams everywhere, people bundled up, dragging their gear on sleds. Found our crew, mostly guys I haven’t skated with in years. Good laughs right away.
Getting dressed outside is always an experience. Fingers freezing trying to lace up skates. Trying to keep snow out of your boots while you change. We found our assigned rink, dumped our stuff nearby. The air was crisp, could hear skates cutting the ice and pucks hitting the wood dividers they use for goals. Real old-school feel.
Playing the Game
Okay, skating on natural ice is different. Way different than a smooth indoor rink. Little bumps, cracks you gotta watch out for. But man, it’s fun. The puck bounces weird, passes don’t always go flat. You gotta adjust.
We played a few games. Won some, lost some. Didn’t really matter. It’s 4-on-4, no goalies, small nets. More about quick plays and just enjoying being out there. Breathing in that cold air, sun on your face (even though it’s freezing). It’s just a good time. You get moving, you warm up pretty quick. Mostly.
- Skating felt good, surprisingly.
- Stickhandling was a challenge on the rough ice.
- Lots of falling. Part of the charm, I guess.
The vibe is super relaxed. Teams are competitive but friendly. Everyone’s just there to play some puck outdoors. Lots of families around, music playing somewhere off in the distance. You see folks with portable heaters, thermoses. Smart people.
Wrapping It Up
By the end of the day, definitely felt it. Tired, cold, but happy tired. Packing up the gear felt heavier going back to the car. Said goodbye to the guys, already talking about maybe doing it again next year. Maybe bring a better thermos next time.
Driving home, just kinda processing it. It’s simple, really. Just hockey on a frozen lake. But it’s something special. Glad I finally got out there and did it. Definitely worth the effort. If you like hockey, you gotta try pond hockey at least once.
